That is, until I organized a developer summit for Google in Madrid, which necessitated a semi-solo trip. I was equal parts excited and nervous. Excited to have the freedom flexibility to do whatever I wanted in a foreign country without my husband there as a chaperone, while also nervous at the possibility of being taken totally responsible for myself in a foreign country without my husband there as a bodyguard.
Basically, I wanted to avoid this fate. What follows in this blog post are my memoirs interwoven with recommendations from the experience. Stay in a new country long enough, and the unfamiliar will start to become familiar as you make connections between cities and civilizations. Madrid reminded me of Lisbon , another European capital.
In the Cuatro Torres Business Area, glass-encrusted skyscrapers poke out between tiled rooftops and church domes. One reason for this architectural mishmash is that rulership of Madrid changed hands several times. Like Lisbon, Madrid was once under Islamic reign. Over seven centuries in the Middle Ages, Muslim emirs established the kingdom of al-Andalus, controlling vast swaths of the Iberian Peninsula including modern-day Spain and Portugal.
Today, Madrid is a thriving metropolitan city and the economic and financial hub of Spain. It is the third largest city in the European Union by population size i.
Madrid also has a lively art and nightlife scene. Sunset views of the Royal Palace from a rooftop terrace on a warm evening. Sundays in Spain are a day of rest. Travel tip: Wondering what to do on Sundays in Madrid? I have a few recommendations! If you live for bargains and funky knickknacks, check out the El Rastro Market , held every Sunday from am to pm. Go in the morning to avoid the crowds. Admission is free on Sundays between pm - pm.
